Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini spoke to Sky Sport Italia following Friday’s Europa League draw in Monaco, offering a direct medical update on Kenan Yildiz before breaking down the club’s expectations, transfer stance, and tactical transition for the upcoming campaign.
Kenan Yildiz set for surgery on metatarsal fracture
Juventus will be without Kenan Yildiz until late November after the 21-year-old suffered a fractured metatarsal against Frosinone last weekend. The forward is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days.
Chiellini was quick to
downplay any long-term structural concerns, emphasizing that while the timing is frustrating, it won’t derail Yildiz’s career:
The situation is clear: He has a metatarsal injury, he will need to be operated on and will be out for a few months.
It’s not an injury that will affect things in the future. Once he returns he will be at 100%. It’s an annoying hitch, but it won’t take anything away from his career or his future.
With Yildiz sidelined for the autumn run, Chiellini noted that the primary silver lining is the chance for others to step up, opening the door for Jeremie Boga or Kerim Alajbegovic to claim regular minutes.
Squad expectations, leadership, and the transfer window
Regarding the broader picture, Chiellini was realistic about where Juventus currently stand in Serie A, naming Inter as the undisputed title favorites while Juve continue to navigate a period of transition.
In Italy, there is Inter, who are at an advantage compared to everyone else. Then there are the teams that are transitioning. Some things will change here in the last few days [of the transfer window], the team is working on it, the desire is to compete.
There are still lots of steps to take from there to becoming a winning side, we know that it isn’t easy to change everything and a lot depends on the other teams. Inter are the big favourites.
It will also depend on injuries. We’re looking at ourselves, we were a bit unlucky with Yildiz’s injury, but it means other guys will have a chance to prove themselves.
Chiellini’s acknowledgement of Juve’s fragility in high-pressure moments hits on a problem fans have watched play out for several years. The lack of backbone and leadership when games go off the rails was a central factor in missing out on Champions League football last term. While rebuilding that mental toughness takes time, Chiellini noted that summer recruitment focused heavily on adding the character and physical solidity needed to withstand those moments.
With the deadline closing in, his comments strongly signal that Juve’s transfer business isn’t wrapped up just yet. By pairing a call for mental fortitude with an admission that “a few things will still change,” the director left the door wide open for late market moves—whether that means closing existing targets or securing additional cover to offset Yildiz’s absence before the window shuts.
